@scottfsmith The Locations Plugin looks interesting. It also allows you to tag a topic with a location so it would integrate well with regional forums. It might be a better solutions that the idea of regional forums as it would allow members to associate a location with a topic so it there was a local event, they could just tag it.
I get the privacy concern but if only members can see the map and member location information as already optional and you can see it now by clicking on a name so it doesn’t seem to be an added risk.
I, too, would drive a few hours to take part in events and fairs in neighboring states!
Wish we could maintain a list these.
I was planning to post this next month but will do now to give an example of a great event for PNW region.
NW Fruit’s winter field day is going to be held March 5, 2022 in Mt Vernon, Washington.
With an emphasis on antique apples, scions and rootstock, this 20 acre site has all manner of in apples, pears, peaches, plums, persimmons, almonds, walnuts, etc. Trees are grown in all types of configurations.
Site can be reached at: nwfruit.org
Site has a list of all antique apple scions available,
@figerama I didn’t realize this feature (the member map) existed. I’m going to see if I can find it now. Ever since joining, I’ve been curious who my “neighbours” are.
I am not sure about an integrated map. I think a fair number of forum members are privacy conscious or like to keep their personal information off the internet.
I have my hardiness zone and state in my profile but I really am not interested in having my street address in a database. And databases with fairly good security can be hacked.
I totally agree I’m probably the only person that still uses Craigslist where I live everyone else is on marketplace which I can’t stand. Call me old school and I guess all the new school developers are always trying new things changing everything just like Windows 10 but don’t get me started. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it, I don’t throw a shovel away just because it’s old, but I guess if I was selling shovels I might haha.
I started a Pittsburgh thread too. I think that those interested in a similar regional aspect should do the same for their area. It meshes well with the current format of the site which I happen to think is great. It would also be extremely helpful for all members to put their location (even if it’s a general one in the nearest big city) for other local members to trade scions and cuttings etc.
Agree with Ryan and several others. This site is hard to beat! I appreciate being in touch with a broad spectrum of experience and understanding how each region contributes to the knowledge base. It’s pretty easy to use other exiting forums to do meetups if that’s the goal. It’s also pretty easy to use the search glass to locate most any subject including now to locate the members map. The one thing I think might be helpful would be to annually send out a reminder to all to update their varieties in the Bio and to consider placing their location on the map. It’s a very useful feature and how I located several local members to share ideas.
Take care of the site and the site will serve you well!
Happy New Years
Dennis
Kent, wa
I would participate in a PNW forum. I used to post on a California fruit forum, but it was all about growing unknown fruits that were only hardy to 40F, and no one considered growing American persimmons or pie cherries there. Pears were considered not worth it due to disease pressure.
Not our situation in PNW.
I do appreciate what Scott has made for us here. We’ve got a great, open ability to share with each other and learn from all of the experience in this group.
@mroot the map would only show locations for members that list their location in their profile and it would only be accessible to members. This is less of a risk than the current map which I am pretty sure is public.
I, too, like the idea of identifying an area of interest. So, for me it would be something like: “cool, maritime PNW region” or “SW Washington lowlands”. I don’t need to be on a map.
Hi John and Others,
Regional forums in which the region is comprised of an area of similar growing conditions throughout would be of great interest to me. Using PNW as a growing region, for example, is far too inclusive. West of the Cascades is better, but still too inclusive. I live in the cool, maritime, lowlands of western Washington which is quite different from the Interstate 5 corridor area of Washington. In fact, growing temps here are somewhat different from where a friend lives 5 miles down the road - but it is close enough for us to compare notes. I would like to “compare notes” with others in a similar growing region.
Let me ask this, I don’t do Facebook I only use marketplace but doesn’t Facebook have these groups already? He says “He would be interesting in a Forum to have regional discussions to meet people in my area, discuss regional issues and events, and possibly do meetups”.
It seems like this format already exist in Facebook to meet people in his area and it seems like a perfect platform for him or anyone else.
Facebook does probably have such regional groups. If I wanted to be on Facebook, I would probably join one. However, I may be wrong here, but a heck of a lot of people, myself included, would NEVER join Facebook. I do see that it provides a very beneficial social experience for a great many people, but I have a hard time getting past it’s evil uses. Perhaps this is rather narrow minded of me, but IT IS used in some very bad ways, I know, I know, virtually all technology has good and bad applications. (Well, one exception here would be the application of agricultural synthetic toxins. This just seems mostly bad. But I digress…)
Facebook does have Groups and I am sure there are Fruit Growing Groups but, FB Groups don’t work like Forums. I know, I manager a FB Group that I created 13 years ago and has >21,000 members. It is great stream of consciousness discussions (like Twitter) but not so great for slower and diverse conversations.
I would love it. The PNW (where I’m at) is so different than most other growing areas.
The USDA zones are only good for low temps. Seattle is 8b, so is a lot of Texas. Not a lot of similar growing conditions.
So very true. The USDA zones take into account only the lowest temperatures and frost dates, but not the warmer temperatures. The number of growing degree days or heating is extremely important for plant growth. As stated, in zone 8 in the PNW, we can’t grow a large number of plants that are easily grown in zone 8 in the South. And vice versa, I suppose. You not only have to consider chill hours but heat units as well.
I agree, I grew up in Texas and live in Portland now. The first year I was here I tried growing tomatoes which are super easy to grow in Texas but here I just ended up with frozen green tomatoes at the end of the season.
